Shelley Verses: From LA ’84 to 7-Eleven’s First Tour de France

Pioneering soigneur Shelley Verses joins Ed, Kurt and Darren for an extraordinary journey through American cycling history. Shelley recounts her beginnings giving free massages to young Santa Barbara racers, being recruited by legendary U.S. coach Eddie Borysewicz and caring for the American road team during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She then takes us behind the scenes of 7-Eleven’s groundbreaking European campaigns, including the 1985 Giro d’Italia and the team’s first Tour de France in 1986. Along the way, Shelley shares unforgettable stories involving Alexi Grewal, Bob Roll, Mike Tyson, Olympic host housing, homemade race food, European soigneurs and the daily improvisation required to keep a professional cycling team moving. She also reflects on working with La Vie Claire, Toshiba and TVM—and what it was like to be a pioneering woman inside the European professional peloton. Episode 44 of the Service Course Report Podcast, hosted by Ed Philbrick, Kurt Stockton and Darren Stockton. Chapters (00:00:13) - Service Course Report: Special Guest Shelley Zapata Espinoza(00:01:44) - When You Were A Cyclist(00:05:36) - Doug Knox on Working at Hendrickson's Bike Shop(00:09:49) - Darrell Abrams: The Santa Barbara Bike Club(00:14:45) - RIP Finona Poster Still(00:16:11) - Eddie Borsovich: I need someone like you at(00:22:11) - Mike Tyson At The Olympic Training Center(00:27:26) - 711(00:32:15) - Bob Sagan on the bad smells in the team car(00:36:32) - The Tour de France(00:36:53) - Olympic massage(00:43:31) - Alexi and his special food(00:46:08) - Alexi on the Olympic(00:47:54) - What hill would you put in the world championships in Santa Barbara?(00:50:57) - Fooled by Nature(00:51:39) - Tom Dumoulin on the 85 Giro(00:54:37) - Race Day 3, Verona(00:57:27) - Medics on The Stage(01:01:59) - Alexi Graywall Needs Figs(01:03:57) - Mike Neal and Trudy At the Tour de France(01:07:09) - Elijah on Working With Raul(01:10:00) - Shammy Story(01:13:53) - Phil and Jimbo Masahica(01:18:15) - Phil and Darren at MX(01:21:04) - How to Get Your Hair Straightened(01:21:19) - Working on the Tour de France in 1986(01:26:03) - The agony of the 86 Tour(01:32:35) - How to Make Ice on the Tour(01:35:16) - 711(01:39:20) - The crash that broke Pascal Poisson's arms(01:43:04) - Paul Coakley on The 86 Tour(01:47:00) - Paul Copley on the 7(01:51:33) - The Louis Vuitton story(01:56:14) - Back in the day(02:00:24) - Bob Roll stealing a panel from his hotel room(02:04:57) - The Secret Life of a Massage Table(02:05:17) - Bob Roll got fined for being naked in a race(02:10:38) - A Moment with Shell Ballard